Through fear and intimidation, a group of livestock butchers have taken power in several communities in the Northern Zone.
In only two months, seven calves have been slaughtered clandestinely on small herd farms.
The group -apparently all members of the same family- performs its illicit activity in La Cruz, San Rafael and Chachagua de San Ramón, near La Fortuna de San Carlos.
The attacks have been perpetrated at night, but some also during the day.
The complainants, a group of small and medium-sized cattle ranchers, say that the Public Force already has complaints in their possession, but to date there are no strong operational actions to arrest those responsible.
The criminal group operates on average every 10 days and earns about 100,000 colones per prominent calves, whose meat they sell illegally.
In the face of repeated attacks, those affected have even locked up the animals. Some have been armed for night surveillance, which raises the risk of encountering offenders.
Faced with the critical situation, those affected immediately request the intervention of the Public Force to carry out preventive actions and the OIJ to investigate and arrest the criminals and butchers.
The affected cattle farmers are already organizing and will soon hold a meeting to join forces and define measures to take, as they are not willing to give more ground to criminals.
Economic damages already amount to several million colones.